Connecting cleat for structural elements



Feb. 6, 1940.` R. J. ANscHlcKs 2,189,159

CONNECTING CLEAT FOR STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 14, p1957 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1940. R. J. ANscl-ucKs 2,189,159

CONNECTING CLEATIFOR STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS v Filed Jan. 14, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 z@ Jia? Patented Feb. c,I 1940 UNITED' STATES PATENT oEFlcE CONNECTING CLEAT FOR STRUCTURAL ELEDIENTS Rudolph J. Anschicks, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Protectoseal Company of America, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Application January 14, 1937, Serial No. 120,532

8 Claims.

, This invention relates to connecting cleats or joints, and particularly to a novel construction and arrangement for connecting and securing portions' of sheet metal structures together.

One object of the present invention is to provide novel cooperating means adjacent the respective edge portions of structural elements whereby the elements may be readily and conveniently connected and secured together without the aid of additional connecting or securing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein the connecting and securing means are formed as a substantially integral part t line Ill-lll of Fig. 9.

of Y the` respective structural elements.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of cooperating structural elements whereby tension or stresses tending to separate the elements will be exerted substantially in the plane of the respective elements.

ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Various forms or embodiments of which the present invention is susceptible are shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of my improved connecting cleat showing a structural element in cooperative relationship with respect to one edge thereof, and a second structural element disconnected from .the ,opposite edge of the cleat;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slightly modified' form of cleat 'construction showing a structural element operatively relate to one edge thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner cleat of a structure similar to that 'shown m Fig: 1: l

Fig. 4 is 'a fragmentary perspective view of a corner cleat of a structure similar to thatshown.

inFig.2; Y

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner connector and cooperating cleat illustrating the manner of connecting the adjacent edges of thecorner piecel and cleat together; A

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a to the strip I2a adjacent` the central' portion Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, my improved type of cleat shown therein and indicated, as a whole, by the numeral I I, comprises, in the present instance, a strip I2 formed preferably of sheet metal and having its vertical edge portions folded back upon itself as indicated at I 3, to provide, preferably, slightly beveled shoulders It spaced inwardly from the edges of the strip, and secured to the strip I2 as, for example, by spot-'welding indicated at I5, and preferably adjacent the central portion of the strip is a cooperating member I6, having its outer edge portions Il extending substantially to the edges of the strip I2 and ofi-set laterally with respect' to the body portion of the member I6, in a manner to provide a retaining member and form a recess I8 adjacent the respective the shoulders I4 formed on the strip I2 and` in V i a manner to conveniently connect and secure the cleat Il and structural elements I Stogether, the portions or members I1 acting to vretain the shoulders I4 and 22 in cooperative relationship with respect to .each other, ity being understood that the resilient character ofthe material'employed in the member I6 will permit-ofthe insertionof the folded edge .portions 2| of the structural elements I9 Ainto -therecess -in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. Y

The structure illustrated. in Fig. 2 contemplates a cleat IIa comprising a strip I2a formedwith inturned edge portions I 3a to provide shoulders Ma spaced inwardly from the .edges of the strip I2a in substantially the same' manner described with referencev to Fig. 1, and secured preferably by means of spot welding, indicated at |a, is a spacer 23, to the opposite face of which is secured a cooperating member IBa having its opposite edge portions gagement with the shoulders Ma` formed on the strip |2a.

Fig.- 3 illustrates a corner cleat 25 of a structure substantially like that illustrated in the cleat shown in Fig. 1, except that the cleat is bent at substantially right angles along a line extending longitudinally of the cleat approximately adjacent the central portion thereof.

Fig. 4 illustrates a corner cleat 24 of a structure substantially like that illustrated in the cleat Ha, shown in Fig. 2, except that the cleat is bent at substantially right angles along la line extending longitudinally of the cleat approximately adjacent the central portion thereof.

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner of connecting a cleat l2 with a structural corner element 26 of angular construction by inserting the folded edge portion 2|' of the element 2S between the folded portion I3 of the cleat l2 and the cooperating portion of the member'l, the insertion being made possible by the resiliency of the portion l'l which enables the positioning of the folded portion 2|' of the element 26 in the recess I8, and positioning the portion 22' in engagement with the shoulder M of the cleat as illustrated at one vside of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 6 isillustrated a fragment of a closure employing the structures illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the near corner element being disclosed as of the character indicated at 26 in Fig. 5, and in the other corner is a corner cleat 25 of the character shown in Fig. 3, while the fiat cleats are of the character indicated at in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 7 is shown the adjacent or cooperating portions of a joint employing a cleat ||b and a structural element lllb, the cleat lib comprising a strip |211 and being substantially like the cleat illustrated in Fig. 2, except that the folded edge portion |3b of the strip B2b comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced portions providing longitudinally spaced shoulders llib at spaced intervals along the edge of the strip |21), while the structural element |91) is provided with a plurality of folded portions 2 Ib longitudinally spaced along the edge of the element |91) and forming shoulders 2212 adapted to engage and cooperate with the shoulders |417 of the cleat Hb.

In the construction shown in Fig. '7, the portions 2|b of the element |91) are of slightly less length than the space between adjacent edges of the folded portions |311 of the strip |21), and -the spaces between adjacent edges of the folded portions 2lb are slightly greater than the length of the portions Mb on the cleat IIb, thereby providing a structure whereby the folded portions 2|b may be inserted into the recess |812 by passing the portions 2|bbetween the portions |411 of the cleat ||b and when the edge portion of the element |917 is -seated in the recess |811, the cleat Ib and structuralv element |912 may be shifted longitudinally with respect to each other to position the shoulders 22h andl |41) in operative engagement with each other. By such an arrangement it will be apparent that the cleat IIb and element |9b may also be disconnected from each other by merely positioning the respective portions 2lb of the element |917 in register with the spaces between the portions |31) of the cleat IIb and then by moving the edge portions of the cleat and structural element laterally with respect to each other, the portions of the jointy may be disconnected without the necessity of shifting the structural element or cleat the full length of the cooperating structure.

Fig. 8 illustrates the manner of forming shoulders Mc adjacent the edge portion of a structural element i by striking up spaced edge portions of the element as illustrated at 2T.

Figs. 9 and l0 illustrate the manner of forming a shoulder ldd on a structural element I9d by striking up portions thereof spaced inwardly from the adjacent edge portion of the element as indicated at 28, thereby providing structures which may be used in lieu of the folded edge portions of the structural members illustrated in the other figures of the drawings.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides novel cooperating means adjacent the respective edge portions of structural elements whereby the elements may be readily and conveniently connected and secured together without the aid of additionalconnecting or securing means. Also, that the present invention provides novel cooperating means whereby the respective elements may be conveniently and readily disconnected or separated if so desired.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the same may be variously rnodied. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and subcombinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by' Letters Patent is:

1. A connecting cleat and joint comprising a strip having beveled edge portions and having its opposite edge portions folded back upon itself to provide beveled shoulders closely adjacent and on one side of said strip adjacent opposite edge portions thereof and spaced inwardly therefrom, afcooperating member permanently secured adjacent its central portion to said strip and having yieldable edge portions offset from the body of the member and spaced from said shoulders, said yieldable offset portions cooperating with said strip to provide recesses adjacent the respective edge portions of the strip, and a structural element having an edge portion engageable with one of said recesses, said edge portion of the element being beveled and folded back upon itself to provide a beveled shoulder closely adjacent and on one side thereof and spaced inwardly from the edge of the element, said beveled shoulder on the structural element being en- .gageable with one of the beveled shoulders on said strip for securing the adjacent edge portions of the strip and element together.

2. A connecting cleat and joint comprising a strip having its opposite edge portions folded back upon itself to provide shoulders on one side of said strip adjacent opposite edge portions thereof and spaced inwardly therefrom, a spacer secured to said strip at said one side thereof and having the edge portions of the spacer positioned. inwardly from the edges of said strip 'and shoulders, and accoperating member secured adja` cent its central portion to saidspacer and having edge portions extending beyond the edges of -said spacer and spaced from said shoulders, said extending edge portions cooperating with said strip and spacer'toprovlde recesses adjacent the respective edge portions of the strip, and a plate having an .edge portion engageable with one of said recesses, said edge portion ofthe plate being folded back upon itself to provide a shoulder spaced inwardly from the edge of the plate and engageable with one of the shoulders on said strip for securing adjacent edge portions of the strip and plate together.

3. A connecting cleat and joint comprising a substantially `flat strip having longitudinally spaced portions of its opposite edge portions folded back upon itself to provide longitudinally spaced shoulders `on one side thereof adjacent opposite edge portions of the strip and spaced inwardly therefrom, a spacer secured to said strip at said one side thereof adjacent its central portion and having the edge portions of the spacer positioned inwardly from the edges of portions folded back upon the body of the plate to providel longitudinally spaced shoulders spaced inwardly from the edge of the plate and engageable with the longitudinally spaced shoulders on said strip, the length ofthe respective longitudinally spaced shoulders on saidplate being slightly less than the space between adjacent ends of the shoulders on said strip, and the space between adjacentends of the shoulders on said plate being Aslightly-greater than the length of the respective shoulders on said strip.

4. A connecting cleat and joint comprising a substantially flat. strip having longitudinally spaced portions vof its opposite edge portions folded back upon itself to provide longitudinally spaced shoulders on one side thereof. adjacent opposite edge portions of the strip and spaced inwardly therefrom, a cooperating member operatively connected adjacent its central portion to said strip and in relatively fixed position with respect thereto, said member having edge portions extending beyond and spaced from said shoulders, saidextending edge portions cooperating with said strip to provide recesses adjacent the respective edge portions thereof, and a plate having an edge portion engageable with one of said recesses, said edge portion of the plate having longitudinally spaced portions folded back upon the body of the plate to provide longitudinally spaced shoulders spaced inwardly from the edge of the plate andzengageable with the longitudinally spaced shoulders on said strip, the- ,pt )mbinatiorn d ,strip having mi opposite edge poltions relatively removed from each other and folded back upon itself to provide spaced shoulders adjacent one side of said strip and spaced inwardly from -the respective opposite edge portions thereof, a cooperating member having a central body portion engaging said strip a substantial distance inwardly from said shoulders and permanently secured to said strip adjacent the central portion thereof, said cooperating member having yieldable edge portions offset from the plane of the body portion thereof and spaced respectively from the edge portions of said strip toprovide a recess adjacent the respective edge portions of the cleat, and a structural element having longitudinally spaced struck-up portions positioned inwardly fromx one of its edges and disposed laterally from the plane of the body portion of said velement to provide longitudinally spaced shoulders positioned inwardly from the edge of said elementvand adapted to enter said recess and engage the shoulders of said strip.

.6. A connecting cleat and joint comprising a substantially at strip having longitudinally spaced portions lof its opposite edge portions folded back upon itself to provide longitudinally spaced shoulders on one side thereof adjacent opposite edge portions of the strip and spaced inwardly therefrom, a cooperating member operatively connected adjacent its central portion to said strip and in relatively flxed position with respect thereto, said member having edge portions' extending beyond and spacedfrom said shoulders, said extending edge portions cooperating with said strip to provide recesses adjacent the respective edge portions thereof, and a plate having an edge portion engageable with one of Vsaid recesses, said edge portion of the plate having longitudinally spaced struck-up portions providing longitudinally spaced shoulders spaced inwardly from the edge of the plate and engageable with the longitudinally spaced shoulders on said strip, the length of the respective longitudinally spaced shoulders on said plate being slightly less than the space between adjacent ends of the shoulders on said strip and the space between adjacent ends of the shoulders on said plate being slightly greater than the length of the respective shoulders on the said strip.

7. A connecting cleat and joint comprising a substantially flat strip having longitudinally spaced shoulders on one side thereof adjacent opposite edge portions of the strip and spaced inwardly therefrom, .a cooperating member operatively connected adjacent its central portion to said strip and in relatively fixed position with respect thereto, said member having edge portions extending beyond and spaced from said shoulders, said-extending edge portions cooperating with said strip to provide recesses adjacent the respective edge portions thereof, and a plate having an edge portion engageable with one of said recesses, said edge portion of the plate having longitudinally spaced struck-up portions providing longitudinally spaced shoulders spaced inwardly from the edge of the plate and engageable with the longitudinally spaced shoulders on said strip, the length of the respective longitudinally spaced shoulders on said plate being slightly less than the space between adjacent ends of the shoulders on said strip and the space between adjacent ends of the shoulders on said plate being slightly greater than the length of the respective shoulders on the said trip.

8. A connecting cleat comprising a strip having infolded edge portions to provide shoulders, a ing resilient edge portions spaced from said spacer secured to said strip on the shouldered shoulders and cooperating with said strip and side thereof, the edge portions of the spacer terspacer to provide a recess adjacent the respecminating inwardly from the shouldered edges of tive edge portions of the strip.

the strip, and a cooperating member secured adjacentits central portion to said spacer and hav- RUDOLPH J. ANSCHICKS. 

